Joy Preble's Blog, page 52

Digging in to write, write, write this morning. Warming up the fingers with my first blog post of 2010. So much swirling in my brain this morning. Two week vacation has come and gone in a snap: our Lost Pines jaunt, a few movies - in theaters and rented (Inglorious Basterds, Up in The Air, The Hangover... possibly Sherlock Holmes today if I can swing it - and if you want just pure laughter, The Hangover is hysterical), and lots and lots of writing, although many more words to go on the WIP. A...

So when you've got a book coming out, your publisher generally assigns you to a publicist. At my level of the game - nobody special, definitely no longer a child prodigy, didn't write about vampires, doesn't sparkle in the sunlight or know anyone who does - this is often a crap shoot. You get who get and he/she adds you to their list and occasionally communicates about your book. For the most part, you're on your own, baby. It's just the way it works.

But as with many things this year for...

If you're signing at Borders during the Christmas rush, it's nice to have some school friends visit Taking a break from the writing, writing, writing that I STILL can't tell you about. (Gee, Joy, could you hint any more annoyingly and repetitively? Probably not.) Never did post a pic from my Borders signing on 12/12, so there it is above. Had a lovely time visiting and signing and occasionally - as seems to be my norm - directing folks to bathrooms, neighboring toy stores, whatever. I don't...

Slipped away with husband for the weekend and some very badly needed R&R. Headed up to Bastrop, which is not far from Austin and hung out at the Lost Pines Resort where one can relax, swim in the heated pool, ride horses, hike trails in the nearby nature park, eat delicious meals including brunch with waffles shaped like Texas, go on hay rides, get a massage, make s'mores in the fire pit at night with the other guests, sip adult beverages when the mood strikes, and other relaxing stuff. Even ...

Big Al, me, and Mark Hayter at Hastings, getting ready to film From the Rooftop ep
So last Friday night, I hung out with my pal and former teaching colleague Mark Hayter and his brother Big Al. Mark's humor column From the Rooftop has spawned TV episodes of his same goofy, folksy humor, some of which are currently airing on http://www.mymtvnetwork.com/ Friday they were filming at the Hastings in Conroe and Hayter called to see if I would guest star as, well, me - author of Dreaming...

Me and agent Jen at our Bellagio breakfast last year

Yesterday was unofficial Agent Appreciation Day - at least that's what author Shari Green told me. So here I am - a day late with the whole thing. Had a good reason or two, but I won't bore you with them. I'll just get down to business.
Why do I love my ABLA agent Jen Rofe?
Let me count the ways:
1. For our first official meeting, we had waffles and fruit and coffee at the Bellagio Cafe in Vegas. How can you not love someone who feeds you...

Me and some of the Banff school girls

Did my first Houston school visit today and all I can say is WOW! Banff School rocks! Thank you to Mrs. Granberry's classes for being such a great audience. You read Dreaming Anastasia! You took Mrs. Granberry's quiz! You researched the Romanovs and Baba Yaga and wrote about how those are reflected in the novel. And you even came up with fantabulous questions to ask me! All school visits should be this wonderful. I had a great afternoon chatting...

Yes, it's snow on the windshield. Real snow. In Houston. The earliest snow in recorded Houston history. Okay, so up here in the northern burbs we didn't have too much. And I had to take the picture through the windshield because otherwise you really couldn't see the flakes. But still. Snow! What a great day yesterday was. The administration even decided that we should have our December fire drill early so everyone could get outside while the getting was good. So out we all went about 1:30 i...

And for post two of the Dreaming Anastasia Road Trip, I present the more humorous version, which is up now on the Books Vertical on Huffington Post. Enjoy!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joy-preble/on-the-road_b_366799.html

Til next time...

Me and the Chicago part of the Preble family at my Borders' signing. Do you see the HOT sign on the display of Dreaming Anastasia's?


Lou Malnati's pizza - just like Anne and Tess eat in an early chapter of DA


University Hall at Northwestern - the real building for the fictional setting of Professor Olensky's office in DA.


Award winning illustrator Larry Day, who was signing with me at the St. Mary's book fair in Riverside.


My little table at St. Mary's Book Fair.

Me at the John Cooper School...